The officers, sent to the Appleton and Elm streets neighborhood after police received numerous complaints of drug-dealing in the area, saw Torres acting suspiciously and discovered the heroin when they frisked him, Scott said.

Torres served a one-year sentence for possession of heroin with intent to distribute in 2006 and has been arraigned 10 times since becoming an adult, Scott said.

Torres, in this matter, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and violation of a drug-free zone.